Lineal slot ventilator with internal cleaning system and adjustable baffle

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, this system is found within a kitchen hood, such as those found in restaurants, used to remove excess cooking heat and grease. Building fire safety and sanitation codes mandate routine hood maintenance to maintain fire safety, operator comfort and workplace sanitation. Conventional maintenance can be very messy, time consuming and quite expensive. In an exemplary embodiment, the hood is fabricated to incorporate an integral heat exchanger which further creates a trough housing a grease extraction device. The exchanger and trough are located in such a manner that collected heat and/or grease may be removed from the exhaust air stream and further fabricated to permit automatic and/or semi automatic cleaning of both devices and trough. This invention improves fire safety and sanitation, saves time and reduces maintenance costs. Cleaning is achieved using less energy and keeps the heat exchanger at peak efficiency to further enhance energy savings.

1 ) A system for cleaning kitchen hood grease removal and/or other devices by submersion and/or soaking without removal from the hood or position in which they are installed for normal operation, said system comprised of:
 a. A linear air induction slot located above the grease removal devices.   b. A full length trough that creates a conduit for airflow from the induction slot to the grease removal devices.   c. A tapered bottom of the full length trough that enhances natural drainage of grease and cleaning agents by creating a pitch to a drain device.   d. A full length baffle that diverts exhaust airflow from the induction slot down into the trough and then up into the grease removal device.   e. A drain that communicates between the pitched bottom of the trough and a floor drain   f. A connection to a grease trap through the hood drain for removal of collected grease   g. A valve to close the hood drain   h. A fill trough fill line to set a level required for soak in place cleaning of all components and surfaces   i. The design of the interior components that permits installation beneath the fill line and maintains airflow and grease removal functions.   j. A method of introducing cleaning agents through the induction slot.   k. A method of using gravity and pressure of water head to drain grease deposits from a soaking chamber within a kitchen hood.   
   
   
       2 ) A kitchen hood grease extraction device that may be installed within a kitchen hood and is designed to be soaked cleaned without removal and further designed to drain collected grease vertically down within the holding device or air stream conduit comprised of:
 a. One or more individual grease removal devices to be installed within the trough of the hood.   b. Grease removal devices that include downwardly pitched horizontal baffles designed to drain grease and wash water or cleaning agents into bottom of the trough.   c. Individual grease removal devices that may be removed from the hood for replacement of inspection.   d. A mounting system for grease removal devices that permits installation and support of grease removal devices without the use of tools.   
   
   
       3 ) A heat exchanger that is integral within kitchen hoods and forms portions of the hood body creating an air stream conduit and/or holding device for grease extraction and/or cleaning systems and is comprised of:
 a. Interior chambers in grease hood airflow trough that extend the full length of the hood induction slot and transport heat recovery fluids.   b. Interior chambers in grease hood airflow trough that extend the full length of the hood exhaust trough and transport heat recovery fluids.   c. Interior chambers that extend horizontally and/or vertically within the hood and transport heat recovery fluids.   d. Interior chambers that are designed to carry a heat recovery fluid such as air, water or other fluid.   e. Interior chambers in a grease hood that are connected to a supply source of heat recovery fluids.   f. Interior chambers in a grease hood that are connected to an outlet or outlets to remove the heat recovery fluid after it have been exposed to the heated exhaust airflow.   g. Chambers that include at least one wall in direct contact with exhaust airflow into or through the ventilator   h. Chambers that include at least one wall designed to be an integral portion of the hood structure.   i. Chambers that are designed to be installed as close as possible to the cooking heat source   j. Chambers that are designed and constructed of stainless steel or other materials that may withstand the heat of cooking.   k. Chambers that are designed and constructed of stainless steel or other materials that may withstand open flame or actual cooking flare-ups. or grease fire without adding to the fire or decreasing fire safety.   l. Chambers that are designed and constructed of stainless steel or other materials that may withstand exposure to grease fire without adding to the fire or decreasing fire safety.   
   
   
       4 ) The system of  claim 1  that further includes automatic water fill system. 
   
   
       5 ) The system of  claim 1  that further includes an automatic drain system. 
   
   
       6 ) The system of  claim 1  that further includes an automatic cleaning agent dispensing system. 
   
   
       7 ) The system of claim that further includes a recirculating pump to induce turbulence and decrease soak time. 
   
   
       8 ) The system of  claim 1  where vertical extraction devices remove grease from airflow and drain grease into lower trough.